Match Feed

Q4 31:05

The siren has sounded to end Q4.

Q4 31:03

It has been a remarkably even effort from a number of Dockers that has helped them win this match. Four goals to Matt Taberner, 30 disposals to Connor Blakely, 706 metres gained to Nathan Wilson and seven clearances to Lachie Neale, all game highs.

Q4 30:37

BEHINDDockers (Nat Fyfe)

Q4 28:32

GOALBombers (Tom Bellchambers)

Q4 28:04

Devon Smith has been outstanding for the Bombers in tonight's match. He has 13 tackles, seven inside 50's and two score assists to lead all Essendon players in these categories. He also has 20 disposals, 333 metres gained and a goal for his efforts.

Q4 27:07

Fremantle have outscored their opponents 7.2.44 to 3.3.21 from Stoppage Clearances in today's match. They only outscored their opponents by 20 or more points from this source twice last season.

Q4 26:59

GOALBombers (Conor McKenna)

Q4 23:42

GOALBombers (Cale Hooker)

Q4 22:44

With that goal to Taberner, the Dockers have kicked 100 points in a match for the first time since Round 7 in 2017, when they kicked 116 points against Essendon at their old home ground Domain Stadium.

Q4 22:44

BEHINDDockers (David Mundy)

Q4 20:42

GOALDockers (Matt Taberner)

Q4 18:13

Stephen Hill gets a reward for his stellar effort in the final term of this match. He has 134 metres gained from eight disposals and seven uncontested possessions, all gamehigh's for the final quarter.

Q4 17:28

GOALDockers (Stephen Hill)

Q4 11:49

Dyson Heppell's work rate has really lifted in the final term. He has six disposals and four contested possessions and a score launch to lead all players on the ground in each category in the final term.

Q4 11:49

GOALBombers (Josh Begley)

Q4 10:11

Dockers InterchangeBradley Hill off due to the blood rule.

Q4 07:36

Essendon have kicked one goal from five inside 50's this term. They averaged a goal from 27 per cent of inside 50's in 2017, the thirdmost efficient goalkicking rate in the AFL last year. They will need to match this efficiency to get a win tonight.

Q4 07:24

BEHINDBombers (Josh Begley)

Q4 06:22

GOALBombers (Kyle Langford)

Q4 04:59

GOALDockers (Adam Cerra)

Q4 03:18

GOALDockers (Ed Langdon)

Q4 01:58

BEHINDBombers (Joe Daniher)

Q4 00:00

Q4 is now underway.

Q3 28:40

Fremantle were terrific in the third term. They outclassed their opponents not just in disposals (10588), but also tackles (19-13) and pressure acts (74-71) leading to nine scoring shots to five from 14 inside 50's to the Bombers 10.

Q3 28:40

The Bombers kicked the ball at 65 per cent efficiency in their defensive half this term, compared to the Dockers 83 per cent efficiency by foot in their defensive half. If Essendon can equalise this metric, they may be able to reign in the Dockers.

Q3 28:40

David Zaharakis was a standout for the Bombers that term, with nine pressure acts, seven disposals and four contested possessions, all teamhigh's, as well as two tackles.

Q3 28:30

The siren has sounded to end Q3.

Q3 28:07

Bombers InterchangeAdam Saad off due to an injury.

Q3 27:58

BEHINDDockers (Nathan Wilson)

Q3 26:54

Fremantle have dominated the ruck contests in this quarter, winning seven hitouts to none. However they are losing the clearance count 45.

Q3 23:43

GOALDockers (Brandon Matera)

Q3 22:56

Fremantle have recored 23 uncontested marks to nine this term. This is their fourth best differential record in this category against Essendon since 2012. They recorded 38 more uncontested marks in the last quarter against Essendon in Round 7, 2017.

Q3 21:38

BEHINDDockers (Hayden Ballantyne)

Q3 19:53

BEHINDDockers (Mitchell Crowden)

Q3 18:56

Stephen Hill kicks in straight to Anthony McDonaldTipungwuti in what could prove a costly momentum swing. That was just McDonald-Tipungwuti's third disposal for the game, and after conceding six out of seven goals, Essendon has the last two in a row.

Q3 18:05

GOALBombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)

Q3 17:52

BEHINDBombers (Josh Green)

Q3 16:27

GOALBombers (James Stewart)

Q3 10:51

13 Dockers players have recorded multiple disposals in the third term. Nine Essendon players are yet to record one disposal for this term.

Q3 09:31

Dockers InterchangeAaron Sandilands off due to the blood rule.

Q3 08:56

BEHINDDockers (Brandon Matera)

Q3 07:17

Matt Taberner has now kicked 3.0.18 from three shots at goal. He was the leading forward target for Fremantle in the 2018 JLT Community Series, leading Fremantle for inside 50 targets (19), goals (five), score assists (five) and scoreboard impact (40).

Q3 05:50

GOALDockers (Matt Taberner)

Q3 03:58

GOALDockers (Adam Cerra)

Q3 02:20

BEHINDBombers (Cale Hooker)

Q3 01:36

After requiring just three disposals to kick the first goal of the match, the Dockers take just two to get the clearance and kick the goal to begin the second half. That was the Dockers first goal launched from Defensive 50 in this match.

Q3 01:19

GOALDockers (David Mundy)

Q3 00:00

Q3 is now underway.

Q2 29:52

16 disposals from 13 contested possessions for Nat Fyfe in the first half to lead the Dockers from the front in both categories. He leads all players with three contested marks and has three score involvements and a goal.

Q2 29:52

Each team is finding different avenues to goal. Fremantle have scored 5.3.33 from possession chains launched in their forward half, whereas the Bombers have recorded 5.1.31 from chains launched in their defensive half.

Q2 29:52

All three of Adam Saad's Intercept Possession in the first half resulted in goals for the Bombers. He launched 19 scores from Intercept Possessions in 2017 as a Sun, the thirdranked player at the Gold Coast in this category last year.

Q2 29:42

The siren has sounded to end Q2.

Q2 28:59

BEHINDBombers (James Stewart)

Q2 27:23

Michael Hurley has been incredibly important for the Bombers in this second term. He has four Intercept Possessions, including two Intercept Marks, both gamehigh's for this term. He has 16 disposals to lead all Bombers for the match as well.

Q2 26:23

BEHINDDockers (Michael Walters)

Q2 25:41

BEHINDDockers (David Mundy)

Q2 23:25

GOALBombers (James Stewart)

Q2 20:34

GOALDockers (Ed Langdon)

Q2 19:07

145 contested possessions in forward half count in favour of the Dockers in this term. Since 2015, they average winning the contested possession count against the Bombers by seven per game, the sixth best differential average of any team in that time.

Q2 14:59

The Dockers have recorded an 83 per cent disposal efficiency rate compared to the Bombers 36 per cent efficiency in the last five minutes. They also are going at 70 per cent efficiency in their forward half compared to Essendon's 0 per cent in this time.

Q2 14:33

GOALDockers (Hayden Ballantyne)

Q2 12:26

GOALDockers (Matt Taberner)

Q2 12:04

Despite only recording three less disposals so far this quarter, Essendon have laid 12 tackles to the Dockers four this term. Essendon averaged four more tackles per game than their opponents in 2017, the thirdhighest differential average last year.

Q2 06:32

GOALBombers (Josh Green)

Q2 03:31

GOALBombers (Dyson Heppell)

Q2 02:44

With that goal to Michael Walters, Fremantle have kicked 3.1.19 from set shots so far in today's match. That matches their output in Round 1 from this source.

Q2 01:31

GOALDockers (Michael Walters)

Q2 00:21

BEHINDBombers (Rushed)

Q2 00:00

Q2 is now underway.

Q1 30:32

Connor Blakely was outstanding for the Dockers in the first quarter. He led all players on the ground with nine disposals and four Intercept Possessions, to go with two marks and one score involvement.

Q1 30:32

Essendon won two of their four offensive oneon-one contest in the first term. They won 33 per cent of their offensive one-on-one's in Round 1, the seventh-highest win rate in the competition last week. Joe Daniher has a game-high four inside 50 targets.

Q1 30:22

The siren has sounded to end Q1.

Q1 28:47

GOALDockers (Cam McCarthy)

Q1 25:12

Nathan Wilson has 238 metres gained, 96 metres more than the next best player on the ground, allowing Fremantle to be able to lock the ball in their forward half this term, which they have done for 67 per cent of this quarter.

Q1 22:56

GOALBombers (Josh Green)

Q1 21:59

The last two goals for the Bombers have been launched from their Defensive Midfield zone. They averaged 19 points per game from this zone in 2017, the fifthhighest average in the AFL.

Q1 20:25

GOALBombers (Tom Bellchambers)

Q1 18:39

GOALBombers (Josh Begley)

Q1 15:50

Devon Smith has recorded six pressure acts, including four tackles, to lead all players on the ground in these categories. He averaged 1.5 chasing pressure acts per game in 2017, the thirdhighest average of any player in the AFL last season.

Q1 12:16

GOALDockers (Nat Fyfe)

Q1 10:40

Zach Merrett has shaken off his concussion sustained in Round 1, leading all Bombers early in the first term with five disposals and three uncontested possessions, however he has negative 56 metres gained.

Q1 06:12

GOALBombers (Devon Smith)

Q1 03:55

All of Fremantle's points early in this match have been launched from Stoppage Clearances (2.2.14). Both the Bombers and Dockers managed 27 points from Clearances in Round 1, the equalsixth lowest score from this source.

Q1 03:54

GOALDockers (David Mundy)

Q1 02:52

BEHINDDockers (Adam Cerra)

Q1 01:40

Three disposals for the Dockers and they get their first goal of the match through Matt Taberner. He lead all Dockers last round with nine marks, including four Intercept Marks, ranked equal second in the AFL in Round 1.

Q1 01:32

BEHINDDockers (Rushed)

Q1 00:21

GOALDockers (Matt Taberner)

Q1 00:00

Q1 is now underway.

Q0 00:10

Since 2014, the Dockers average five clearances per game more than their opposition when playing at home, the highest differential in this category in that time. Against the Power last week they lost this count by 10, the third worst result in Round 1.

Q0 00:10

James Stewart made a promising start to his sixth season in the AFL. In Round 1 he took five marks inside 50 (ranked equal second in the AFL), and kicked 3.2.20 with two goal assists to rank equal seventh in the AFL for Scoreboard Impact.

Q0 00:10

Since 2014, the Dockers have scored a goal from 33 per cent of their inside 50's against the Bombers, the secondhighest percentage recorded by a side. 12 of those goals have come from free kicks, the most of any side in that time.

Q0 00:10

Essendon kicked forward from 95 per cent of kicks, and long from 50 per cent of kicks, the highest rates in each category of any side in Round 1. This helped them to a plus 9.03 minute time in forward half differential, the fourth best mark in Round 1.

Q0 00:10

Luke Ryan gained an average of 30 metres per disposal in Round 1, the secondhighest average amongst the top 50 players for total metres gained in the AFL. His disposal retention rate of 69 per cent ranked him at equal 25th in this group.

Q0 00:00

Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.

Ed Langdon's second major to open the fourth quarter made Essendon's already difficult task even tougher and when impressive first-gamer Adam Cerra (nine disposals) slotted his second Freo had the game by the scruff of the neck.

Three late goals limited the scoreboard damage for the Bombers but they will count this as a missed opportunity.

For Freo, this performance was the perfect response to a turnover-laden 50-point loss to Port Adelaide in the season opener.

WATCH: Langdon slots a long goal

The Dockers' ball movement was slick, especially from half-back through Nathan Wilson (23 disposals), Connor Blakely (30) and Luke Ryan (22), while Fyfe (29, one goal) powered an engine room that held sway for most of the contest.

Confident-looking spearhead Matt Taberner was the major beneficiary of Freo's attacking mindset, slotting four goals, one short of his career-best.

WATCH: Tabs gets Freo fans buzzing

At the other end, Essendon's three-pronged tall forward line was blunted, although unheralded James Stewart (two goals) tried hard.

Young Dockers defender Alex Pearce held Essendon star Joe Daniher goalless for the first time in 40 games, while Joel Hamling was rock-solid on his return.

Key playmaker Stephen Hill (26 disposals, one goal) also got through unscathed in his first match in 2018 after quad and calf trouble.

In front of a 49,021-strong crowd – about 4,500 fewer than for West Coast's first home game – Freo started in white-hot touch.

Taberner brought the Purple Army to life with a superb finish from the pocket inside 20 seconds, and Freo's fanbase was in full voice when influential veteran David Mundy (21 disposals, two goals) sharked Michael Hurley's spilled marking attempt.

The Dockers were controlling clearances on the back of Aaron Sandilands' influence but the Bombers soon steadied.

Essendon snatched the lead with a quick-fire burst of four majors before Cam McCarthy gave the home side a slender two-point lead at quarter-time.

The sides kept exchanging blows throughout the second stanza, with the Dons refusing to let the home team run away with the contest, only trailing by eight points at the long break.

But the Bombers never hit the front after half-time as they slumped to a seventh-straight loss in Perth, while Freo's four first-year players – Andrew Brayshaw, Bailey Banfield, Mitch Crowden and Cerra – plus recruits Brandon Matera and Wilson toasted their first triumph in purple.

"I thought with four players one game or less … bring some real enthusiasm and vibrancy.

"There's going to be some challenges, we understand that, but I thought Cerra was fantastic tonight and Brayshaw, and Mitch Crowden's effort and Bailey Banfield's role on Merrett was a significant role.

"We sent him to tag Merrett and Merrett's their jet, and I thought he really limited him and was crucial in the win, so that was pleasing."

The Dockers youngsters enjoy their first win at Optus Stadium. Picture: AFL Photos

MEDICAL ROOMFremantle: Big man Aaron Sandilands came off briefly in the third term with a blood nose but otherwise the Dockers appeared to have a clean bill of health. Bradley Hill looked in all sorts of trouble when he lay prone on the far wing in the final term but managed to jog off under his own steam before going to the rooms with an apparent problem with his already strapped left knee. Hill returned to play out the match.

Essendon: Adam Saad hobbled off the ground late in the third quarter with an apparent left knee injury but returned to play out the final term.

NEXT UPThe Dockers are back at Optus Stadium in seven days for an 'away' game against the in-form Suns, while Essendon has a clash with under pressure Etihad Stadium co-tenant the Western Bulldogs next Sunday afternoon.